Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Listening Point - General Discussion :: BWCA “Depression”
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analyzer |
What I love most about the boundary waters, is the escape from the "real" world. No email, no traffic (vehicle), no politics, no gas prices, no inflation, and most importantly, no cell phone. I love when my wife has to shut it off and put it away. That didn't even happen in Alaska. She almost always had an internet connection. With the way the economy/society is going, I crave getting off grid even more. Yes, I'm depressed. |
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YetiJedi |
Hopefully you can get back there sooner than you think, PeaceFrog. |
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bfurlow |
My wife and I felt something similar the last two weeks when taking my son to and from camp. It was in a rural area and it made me long for what seemed like a simpler life with more wild spaces and fewer people. |
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papalambeau |
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MidwestMan |
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thegildedgopher |
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Minnesotian |
Yep, it is a common occurrence for me after every backpacking or canoeing trip. The key is to examine and recognize what makes you depressed about coming back to the daily grind. For me, what I enjoy the most from my trips is that freedom of exploration. So, in my daily grind I try to incorporate that heightened excitement from exploration by checking out a nearby restaurant that I normally wouldn't go to, or to attend a festival that is outside of my static comfort zone, or to sign up for an exercise class that pushes my comfort limits. The beauty of those trips, besides the views and landscape, is having the chance to remember who I am and what I like. Being reminded of that, I try to bring that back to my everyday life. By doing so, I keep extending the trips well past when I come back. Or to put it better is this quote from T.H. White and "The Once and Future King": “The best thing for being sad," replied Merlin, beginning to puff and blow, "is to learn something. That's the only thing that never fails. You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honour trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then — to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting. Learning is the only thing for you. Look what a lot of things there are to learn.” |
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mgraber |
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cyclones30 |
I'm 2+ years into dealing w/ long haul c*vid and haven't been much of anywhere since. :( So yeah BWCA depression is real....I haven't been up there since 2019 |
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Freeleo1 |
The lessons learned from wilderness tripping bring some solace since if there is a total collapse of society I feel more prepared to be self sufficient. I'm hoping squirrels and grubs are as edible as people say they are. |
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portagedog09 |
pd |
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merlyn |
Does this describe you? Do you haunt the BW forum, watch Youtube camping videos hoping to pickup some little tidbit of knowledge, pack and re-pack gear looking for a better, lighter, more efficient way to do things, pour over maps looking for the perfect route, does your canoe have a name? on and on etc etc. Thats me. I live in ne Wisconsin minutes from hiking and canoeing and while nice it just doesn't satisfy like the BW. The BWCA is a very special place and is both a blessing and a curse because it is so unique and can capture your soul. If I was up there now I wouldn't have been able to write such a maudlin post! |
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deerfoot |
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bhouse46 |
Minnesotian: " Absolutely the statement of a learned man, thanks for sharing. My anatomies are failing and I am saddened to think I cannot do as much. Coming home from my last trip with a shoulder wrenched putting on my pack at a portage I felt sad to think how much I must limit myself. I also learned the BWCA is a last clean place to camp and I can stlll do it, at a slower pace, and felt joy. I will be going again this September to learn something. And to get away from the lunatics who seem to be running the world. |
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JohnGalt |
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PeaceFrog |
I feel like I am suffering from BWCA Depression because I feel the need to go back. As soon as I got back to Ohio, I was ready to repack and head north. Finding it hard to be motivated with “normal” daily life. So sick of same old thing different day. If I could retire today and move north, I would. Anyway, does anyone else get this lull after a trip to BW? I guess I will soothe my pain with planning and figuring ways to cut weight for the next trip. Hope everyone is enjoying their trips. Best!! PF |
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PeaceFrog |
JohnGalt: "I would get that feeling the last day or two of every trip knowing it was going to end soon, too soon, & told myself one day I just wouldn't leave. A trip is never long enough." Agree. A trip is never long enough. I would like it to be everyday life |